Winners And Losers Of Bucs Draft
April 27th, 2025
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
So Joe is going to go through some guys that may be celebrating and may be sweating as a result of this weekend’s draft.
Winners
SirVocea Dennis, Anthony Walker
There is no doubt that Dennis is a good player. When he has been on the field, the guy has made plays. And he is fast. But man, the guy can’t stay healthy.
This offseason, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht had raved about Dennis’ talents and that he can and probably will be a force.
As for his injuries, Licht clearly believes those are now in Dennis’ past post-surgeries. Anthony Walker also now seems secure.
The fact the Bucs didn’t draft an inside linebacker despite the howls of the NFL world (including Joe), shows the Bucs are content with the horses they currently have in the stable at inside linebacker.
Bucs assistant general manager Rob McCartney said yesterday the team “feels good” about its linebackers.
Baker Mayfield
Who has more weapons to throw to now than Baker Mayfield? Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan and maybe Tez Johnson. That’s what you call an arsenal. Not only are the Bucs loaded with offensive weapons, Joe sort of thinks the Bucs are building a case for Mayfield to stick around after his contract expires. Mayfield is signed through 2026 with an option for 2027.
If Mayfield enjoys living in Tampa as much as he does and he still has these same receivers, he’d be out of his mind to leave. Might even take a bit of a discount to stay.
Bucs secondary
The way the Bucs loaded up on an edge rusher and a defensive lineman on Day 3, it is clear the Bucs have placed a strong emphasis on getting to the quarterback (finally). As we all know, a strong pass rush is a defensive back’s best friend.
Yes, Joe knows the Bucs drafted two corners on Day 2. Joe doesn’t believe they will be starting right away unless Jamel Dean gets hurt — you know he will at some point.
Bucs tight ends
Cade Otton is an OK, reliable tight end. Was above average when he put the offense on his back after both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin missed time with injuries. Payne Durham is just OK. Ko Kieft is a solid blocker. Devin Culp may have the best upside.
The fact the Bucs didn’t draft a tight end sure seems to suggest the Bucs’ four tight ends are safe.
Tykee Smith
The starting slot corner had been lobbying Bucs coach Todd Bowles for a chance to start at safety as he wants the opportunity to get more snaps.
With the Bucs not drafting a safety pretty much solidifies the safety gig is wide open. And Smith will very likely get a chance to both start, and get more snaps which is what he wanted.
Losers
Ryan Miller, Rakim Jarrett and Trey Palmer
The Bucs now have the strongest wide receiver room in the NFL. That also means guys at the bottom of the depth chart may be looking for work.
Joe is going to guess Sterling Shepard will stick around, partly because of his veteran status and partly because he is tight with Mayfield.
Guys like Ryan Miller, Rakim Jarrett and Trey Palmer might want to have their agents on speed dial. For whatever reason, Palmer has never really gotten on the same page as Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield on deep balls. The whole reason Palmer is on the roster is to stretch the field. That’s gotta change and change in a hurry if Palmer wants to stay with the Bucs. Perhaps he gets a reprieve with new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard?
Will Gholston
Good guy Will Gholston will be 34 this summer. That’s just about ancient history for a defensive lineman in the NFL. Logan Hall has usurped Gholston as a starter and sadly, Gholston’s numbers have steadily slipped the past few years.
Gholston is a solid player. Nothing flashy but he gets the job done. Glue guy. Hall has been groomed to take over for Gholston. The selection of Elijah Roberts on Day 3 of the draft seems to signal the end of Gholston.
Josh Hayes
When you are the worst cornerback on a team with one of the worst pass defenses the past two seasons, any cornerback drafted on Day 2 of the draft pretty much means you better be renting. The Bucs drafted two corners on Day 2.
Third-round pick Jacob Parrish is every bit the speedster and athlete that Hayes is and he will have a chance to prove himself. Hayes already has, and he’s proven to be a sad cornerback and a replaceable special teams player.
Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez
Bucs types both on and off the record, rave about how Ramirez and Watts give Tristan Wirfs fits in closed practices. Yet despite them driving the best tackle in football crazy in closed practices, they cannot get on the field on a Sunday afternoon to play defense. Not even for a team that was so desperate to find an edge rush they brought Shaq Barrett out of mothballs. Weird, right?
Well, with the drafting of David Walker and Elijah Roberts, the Bucs sent a very clear message to the two third-string (?) warriors that they must step up (on Sunday afternoons) big time or they’re gone.
Joe once asked the Bucs if Ramirez and Watts were raising so much hell in closed practices, if the Bucs could upload some practice clips of the two on Buccaneers.com. Fans would love to see it. Joe was told the Bucs didn’t want to tip off other teams. Oh.
(No, Joe doesn’t think Jamel Dean is a loser this weekend. Dean is still a Bucs starting cornerback and unless Benjamin Morrison balls out this summer so well that Bucs coach Todd Bowles can’t take Morrison off the field, Dean is safe. For now.)
April 27th, 2025 at 12:08 am
AP NEWS gave us a A-.
April 27th, 2025 at 12:08 am
Nice article Joe. My sentiments exactly!
April 27th, 2025 at 12:19 am
We’ll be just fine at Inside Linebacker.
Great Piece Joe
April 27th, 2025 at 12:34 am
Interesting
April 27th, 2025 at 12:51 am
A 4.9 forty at defensive tackle with 45 reps of 225? **That’s top-tier power and explosiveness.** Add in a hockey and wrestling background, and you’ve got a player who understands leverage, stays low, and controls space—exactly what you want in a disruptive interior defensive lineman.
Believe it or not, Griffith was one of the most productive defensive linemen in the country. His three sacks and 12 hurries might not jump off the page, but his 10% pass-rush win rate and 8.2% run-stop rate place him comfortably in the top quarter of all defensive linemen—after three dominant seasons at Harvard. He just wasn’t on the field more because of NIL deals with other guys at Louisville.
The jump from the Ivy League to the ACC didn’t faze Griffith, which is encouraging given his next step—hopefully toward the NFL. He plays with excellent leverage and raw power. While he might ultimately project as a two-down player, he would be an outstanding rotational piece—especially as a spell for Vita Vea.
**How did this guy go undrafted?** How is he not even a priority free agent? What am I missing here?
If you’re Jason Licht and the Buccaneers are serious about reloading the defensive line with athletic monsters, you *have* to throw $50K at this guy and get him into camp. Imagine lining him up next to Vita Vea—an absolute wrecking crew. He’s easily worth what you spent on Desmond Watson.
I don’t get it. And I *love* the Buccaneers’ draft this year. Also, that UDFA Texas center Jake Majors (he can play every offensive line posistion) should make the team—he’s good, especially as a UDFA.
April 27th, 2025 at 1:04 am
Now this is how you write a winners and losers of a draft. Nice summary.
April 27th, 2025 at 1:36 am
Joe pretty much summed up who definitely benefited from the influx of new Buc talent and who has been put on notice and might be seeing a change of scenery in the coming months really well. Nice piece to put everything in perspective.
April 27th, 2025 at 1:48 am
Nice draft. All the guys we drafted will help the team.
A few free agents could really solidify the defense
Next year will be fun.
So happy we have Baker Mayfield.
Offense should roll
April 27th, 2025 at 1:59 am
I was HOPING that by the end of this draft, we’d have all the pieces we’ll need to get us to the Super Bowl. In particular,
o I was HOPING that we’d draft a huge DT/NT to rotate in with Vita Vea and give us a more consistent pass rush. That didn’t happen.
o I was also HOPING that we’d draft at least 1 ILB who could start in the middle of this defense and radically improve what was a deficiency last season. That didn’t happen either.
o And yes, was also HOPING that we’d draft at least 1 CB who was starter-capable in TB’s very demanding Secondary. We did draft a CB, actually 2, but it’ll be awhile before either (if ever) is capable of starting in this defense.
o And just for kicks, wouldn’t have minded if the Bucs had drafted another Safety to enhance our depth there. Nope, didn’t happen.
Instead, we drafted 2 WRs (who’ll probably see minimal snaps this year), 1 Edge (who’ll probably see minimal snaps this year), 1 DE (who’ll also probably see minimal snaps this year), 1 CB (who’ll have to beat out both Dean AND Hall to see any significant number of snaps this year), and 1 CB (who’ll have to beat out Izien to see much time at Nickel).
Bucs (potentially) drafted for the future, but I’m not convinced that’ll help us win the Super Bowl THIS YEAR. Sure do HOPE I’m wrong though. Thankfully we’ve got some money this year, and we can still fill any shortfalls by using the free agency route.
April 27th, 2025 at 2:00 am
Jamel Dean has played 6 years for Tampa and has a grand total of 8 interceptions. He has a fan club on these pages- The question is why? When you are a corner on a team with a horrendous pass defense record, not sure why you would be back this season.
April 27th, 2025 at 2:23 am
Defense Rules: I think the rookie CB’s will probably be able to play early. Also, there might be a few UDFA’s that wind up being decent depth players. That happens just about every year.
April 27th, 2025 at 3:03 am
Egbuka, the corners and the two defensive line guys will all play this season, imo. They are win-now picks, replacing guys like Palmer, Miller, Hayes, etc. if not some starters. Depth wins games.
April 27th, 2025 at 3:42 am
Defense Rules: I don’t know why you’re being such a drama queen, but I think you’re totally off base on these.
Morrison, I think he’s a stud and will play early – so long as he’s healthy. I don’t care if he starts or not, he’s going to play a bunch of snaps and looks NFL ready to me. Rookies always are a bit iffy in terms of production, but this guy only slipped because of injury, if not, he’s easily a 1st rounder. I love his tape, and he’s going to do a lot more than sit on the bench – again, assuming he’s healthy.
Parish I’m less sure about, and his profile says he played more outside than insider, but he sure seems to profile as a nickel – but we’ll see how he does.
Both of the corners are dramatically better than anything we had behind Zyon, Dean and Smith, and both will get a lot of snaps this year, and I think people are going to look at Morrison as being a future star by the end of the year.
As far as Walker goes – in most cases I’d agree about not expecting a lot, but this is a guy who has a ton of production and is already 25-yeards old, and dominated at the senior bowl. I think he’s going to provide some production this year – not saying he’s a star or anything, but he’s not a developmental guy like Braswell and shouldn’t need to sit and learn. He should get a decent amount of snaps.
As for Roberts — not a big fan of that pick, but more about the position at that point in the draft, and if he’s ever any good it will likely take a while to find out. That’s the one pick in the draft where I really wish they went ILB, but then again the Chiefs traded up in front of the Bucs and took the guy who I thought the Bucs were going to take, in ILB Bassa. Obviously we have no idea if Bassa was the Bucs guy, but obviously the Chiefs thought so.
As for the WR’s … you win by outscoring your opponent. In the 1st, the Bucs got probably the safest guy in the draft, who you can pencil in as a #2 WR and spot him 900 yards and 6 TDs a year as his floor. But, as a #3 or #4 WR, that’s when you got a huge mismatch. Also this team is going to live and die by the offense, and the Bucs injury history and age at WR means e2 was a very good pick, for now, and certainly for the future, in particular when WRs are getting $30m a year, and you got a really good one signed up on a 5yr rookie deal.
As for the 7th rounder, well, that’s a lottery ticket, who knows. Getting a guy who can be your returner, run some screens and gadget plays – I have no issues. Most 7th rounders don’t even make the team, so getting anything out of that spot is a win.
April 27th, 2025 at 3:45 am
Jose Ramirez, was never really given an opportunity during the season. Looked really good in preseason.. but that was against 2nd/3rd stringers. But we have nice depth at OLB, now. So Watts and Ramirez would be the odd men out.
April 27th, 2025 at 3:45 am
Disappointed that we didn’t draft a safety or an ILB. Xavier Watts was there for the taking in the 3rd and instead we take another corner. Kansas City cockblocked us in the 5th for Basa although I doubt we would’ve taken him anyway. I like Morrison and think if he’s fully healthy will get plenty of playing time this season, after all Dean is guaranteed to miss at least 1/3 of the games due to injury. We are thin at ILB and even thinner at safety. After our 2 starters at safety, who do we have? Iz and Merriweather? That doesn’t make me feel very good. The Falcons have one of the best safeties in the league in Jesse Bates but still drafted 2 safeties. Maybe we’ll pick up a veteran safety with the next round of league cuts. I sure hope so.
April 27th, 2025 at 3:46 am
Would love Jared Ivey, he hasn’t signed with anyone yet.. I believe.
April 27th, 2025 at 4:40 am
I know some are disappointed, but I am VERY happy. We got our WR and a great talented kid (I was thinking hit it in the 2nd, but Higgins went quick, so Emeka worked out perfect)
2 CB’s which I was hoping for.
2 D line which I was hoping for (one in Elijah Roberts who I was pushing for)
Then we cap it off with a small shifty WR return guy…..NICE!!
And the UDFA’s look good so far. Def love the big tank Desmond. If he works out, what a load of fun that will be watching him and Big V in a 4th and short goal line situation, and I mean BOTH sides of the ball…just give V the ball, automatic TD. Then we get a true bu C added with Jake Majors. He’ll be great for working with the 2nd team during practices. I def wanted that going forward.
Yeah, this was another great draft….you’ll see 🙂
April 27th, 2025 at 4:51 am
D rules, We did bring in an UDFA NT who weighs 464 pounds! He was a rotational player with the Gators, maybe he can do the same here? Bottom line, we couldn’t address all our needs with 6 picks in the draft. I think we added some good players.
April 27th, 2025 at 4:56 am
It’s a draft that I don’t know what to make of. Except for the corners it’s not what I was envisioning.
April 27th, 2025 at 5:28 am
Joe I think you missed where McCartney said that the ILB’s in play didn’t fall to them. I’m going to take a swing and say Bassa was one of them and the chiefs stole him a pick before us. Plus I think Schwesinger was in the mix.
April 27th, 2025 at 5:33 am
I hope we keep Ryan Miller and Sterling Shepard. Both solid, except Shepard made some bone head plays. Though I think both are good practice squad guys. Rakim Jarret never seems to make but 1-2 splash plays a season and you never hear much about him. That other kid I think Kameron Johnson dropped that wide open tuddy and we didn’t see him again until way late. That is like a major no-no when coming in as a player. Like it does happen, but to get that kind of trust from the QB then to drop a QB when stats like that matter shows why Ryan Miller played more than him. I think he has potential but may be gonezo with Will Shepard, Tez Johnson, and Egbuka coming in.
As for TE’s, I think Devin Culp and Payne Durham came into the scene a lot last year with Otton injured. I like Otton but he isn’t anything other than reliable in my opinion. I see no change in TE’s except maybe Devin Culp takes more snaps.
I’m excited for this year. I say it every year but we are going to the Superbowl lmao
April 27th, 2025 at 5:56 am
I can’t figure this draft out. Would like to have seen more of a focus on the D line and LBs. For what it’s worth the Bucs signed a LB and DT as UDFAs. At least Desmond Watson will be fun to watch.
April 27th, 2025 at 6:34 am
Go Bucs!
Excited because I believe Licht stuck to his board and just picked some really good prospects.
I am a fan of the double dipping WR/Edge/CB. Hit on 1/2 and you’re golden, and these guys have a chance to play. Good tools.
April 27th, 2025 at 7:04 am
Kam Johnson WR was mentioned by the assistant GM, WR room will be quite competitive after the first four
April 27th, 2025 at 7:06 am
Defense Rules, I always enjoy your comments but I have to disagree with you. This is the first time I’ve actually seen you complain and wine. Hopefully you see differently . I am impressed with this draft.
April 27th, 2025 at 7:20 am
I really don’t know what people expect teams to do in the draft.
“We have 6 picks. What, we didn’t get 6 All Pros? No Super Bowl this year.”
April 27th, 2025 at 7:23 am
Disappointing draft IMO. Obviously JL and Bowles have a very different view than the rest of the world regarding this team. I really believe we needed a ILB. You get your best lineman in the first two rounds. 3rd and 4th rd lineman usually are back ups or average starters – like Diaby and Nelson. Hoping Braswell comes through this year. Such a deep draft for DTs and the Bucs didn’t get one of the top 10.
I would have loved to see the Bucs go Edge, DT, CB, ILB and S in that order if they didn’t trade back.They could have filled the major needs if the Bucs hadn’t went WR in the first. Total luxury pick unless the Bucs plan to run 4 WRs most of the time.
Still a fan and hope it works out, but I don’t see this helping the Bucs win a SB this year.
April 27th, 2025 at 7:29 am
DR
When you have a first round WR that won’t get many snaps & 2nd & 3rd round corners that can’t start….That tells me two things….we didn’t draft for need & we’ve got some good players at those positions.
I wanted a ILB…..but Licht didn’t….he wins again.
Joe….you are right in the money!!!
April 27th, 2025 at 7:34 am
Desmond Watson is the best tackler ever for the simple reason that the ball carrier is pulled to him by his gravitational field.
April 27th, 2025 at 7:42 am
my post is still in mod
April 27th, 2025 at 7:46 am
Defense rules said it best…seems like a draft for the future but no immediate upside to win SB now.
Reminds me of the Trask pick in rd 2, Brady’s last year and JL decides to pick a QB
April 27th, 2025 at 7:47 am
Ok for DR wanting Kenneth Grant as a 1 technique DT.
However, he went in the draft at the Vita Vea level. I think number 13 overall.
Certainly, there were other DTs that were good but the other two 330lbs to me dropped off after Grant. So those two guys getting picked between 19 and 53 (spots 28 and 43) were not a surprise to me.
After that the larger guys are 1st down and goal line players only.
As for ILB, I am more like Joe. The Dennis/Walker combo clearly has a chance to be much better than last year. We will see. Would like more depth but we only had 6 picks.
The other winner to me seems to be Goedeke. I was concerned about his concussion symptoms seemingly to last longer than most last year. Since the Bucs did not pick up an OT, I think they see a long term future for Goedeke.
April 27th, 2025 at 7:50 am
So the assistant G M “feels good” about our linebackers huh. Like how our G M felt good about our defensive end group on record before draft, then drafted two of them didn’t he.
Like many other instances in this draft when they could have focused on a known needed player and targeted them, Demetrius Knight and a real Safety such as Mukuba and Watts were left swinging in the wind rather than acquired by solid G M’s. Knowns.
Dennis won’t stay healthy, and the guy wasn’t an all pro before, and Walker “might” be decent, but is decent what we’re looking for to make a deep playoff run!?
In all, Walker was a known late round target for many teams and pundits so wise pickup there, but otherwise this draft was a lack of aggression, confusing complacency on staff spoken assessment of positional roster perceived “strength”, and borderline arrogance stated versus pursuing known upgrade commodities in the draft, and at times needing to use future picks to acquire said commodities for a SuperBowl attempted run.
No killer instinct. For ME13 final seasons. After his departure we have a large shakeup coming anyway.
April 27th, 2025 at 7:52 am
*Walker Jr LB might be decent.
David Walker drafted good known pickup.
Too many Walkers.
April 27th, 2025 at 7:54 am
A+ draft.
April 27th, 2025 at 8:06 am
@DR, you wanted a huge DT in this draft, well at least you got the tush push terminator as an UDFA – Desmond Watson!
I watched Desmond play with the Gators, surprised by how athletic he
is.
If he makes the team he will be the heaviest NFL player in history. 6’6” at 464 pounds. The guy is an immovable object….
April 27th, 2025 at 8:17 am
I think if Kenneth Grant had been there at 19, this draft would’ve ended up looking totally different.
April 27th, 2025 at 8:29 am
Defense Rules is spot on. Instead of drafting elite talent, starter caliber players on the defensive side of the ball we start with a WR, add two CB’s one of which is coming off his SECOND hip surgery, the second that is a Smurf, two project level edge players and another WR.
The problem on defense last season as inferior talent. We did nothing to improve that other than add Reddick. At ILB we have an aging LVD – my favorite Buc for the last 10+ years – and Dennis who hasn’t played. And the FA backups.
May be our worst draft in the ast 10 years.
April 27th, 2025 at 8:36 am
@defense rules
You are 100% spot on unfortunately most folks here drink the bucs Kool aide… The bucs left to many great players on the board . head scratching draft for sure
April 27th, 2025 at 8:45 am
Sure looks like the Buc’s have added quality depth to this roster. Things should be fun again come September! IMHO! Until proven wrong, I’m sticking to this script!
April 27th, 2025 at 8:51 am
The problem with the defense last year was not lack of talent in the secondary. It was injuries and lack of a 4 man pass rush. Luck may help with the first problem. The Bucs’ draft definitely addressed the second problem (and a bit of the first when it comes to Dean).
April 27th, 2025 at 8:57 am
Everyone complaining about this draft are the same type of people I love going against in my fantasy football draft.
“I don’t have my second starting running back yet, so I need to take one now.
April 27th, 2025 at 8:59 am
Baker will not take a (nother) discount to stay. If plays as he has, he’ll expect to be paid as he should. Anytime I think of QB contracts and it’s absurdity, Trevor Lawrence comes to mind. Absolutely insane.
April 27th, 2025 at 9:00 am
I commented about the same thing on Baker last night…
“Another big question being… Just how MUCH ‘talent’ does Baker really need!? Hmmmm… Hell, EVERY QB in the entire League should now be jealous of Old Bake. Let’s hope he remembers this, when it’s time to be PAID.”
Meaning… As in HE BETTER BE taking a DISCOUNT. I’ve never seen a QB before, that an organization ‘believes-in’ being SO ELITE, that they feel they have to give THIS AMOUNT of weapons to. It doesn’t show all that much faith, to me.
April 27th, 2025 at 9:05 am
bowles still calling defenses so it will all come down to his alleged epiphany
April 27th, 2025 at 9:21 am
We lost 3 games last year because we had people on the field who had no business being there. Two of them were gone before the draft. We seem to have enough depth in the D backfield now to make sure that doesn’t happen again. As for ILB, Dennis has had ONE nagging injury since college, and now it’s fixed. I’m good with all this
April 27th, 2025 at 9:24 am
And, another thing to all of these “Homers” drinking the kool-aid, who LITERALLY, would have cheered and praised ANY FREAKING BODY the Bucs would’ve drafted as being a “Great-Pick,” “JL is THE King,” blah, blah, blah, & even without EVER ‘seeing’ the kid actually play a single down of football. NEVER ‘questioning’ ANY freaking thing they did. And, this to the person who said, “I Think We Got The #1-WR In The Entire Draft!”
“Best WR in a ‘draft-class’ with ZERO Elite-WR’s. Brian Thomas Jr. (23rd-overall) was the 4TH WR taken in last year’s draft… 5th, if you want to count Bowers, who’s basically a receiver, playing at TE. Though, I think he surprised some people with his blocking this past season. Before the draft even began, I said that I really liked the kid (“EE”)… Hell, I watched well OVER 20+ of his college games. BUT, I’m not taking a WR at #19 in THIS year’s draft-class. Next year’s class will be much better, & the 2027-class is ‘generational’ LOADED. Plus, we had many other, much more immediate, pressing needs. It was safe and a reach. Not a great draft. Doesn’t move the needle.
I watched at least over a ‘half-dozen’ of Jeremiah Smith’s HS games while at Chaminade Madonna, & I was really excited about seeing his OSU debut! So, right off the bat I noticed that “EE” was still there, & was like… “Good God, HE’s STILL THERE, How Old Is He Now, 30!?” LoL. It really did seem like it… He was one of those guys. Seemed-like he’d been there FOR.EVER. Haha. Urban Meyer, who LOVES the kid, even said he was a 4th-Round Pick in last season’s draft (I think at best a 3rd… JMac would’ve been at WORST a 2nd, had he not been injured). But, that wa the reason “EE” returned to OSU for another season.
The Eagles, Ravens, & Bills all made “SUPER BOWL” moves. We made safe, boring moves, while being content with mediocrity. It was NOT a good draft, at all.
April 27th, 2025 at 9:45 am
There is no way anyone is making me believe that EVERY player on the Bucs board just magically fell into their laps. NOT buying it. If you’re NOT taking swings on some players, & making moves for the players you REALLY want… Then, you’re doing nothing. I think it was all to protect his reputation, by taking ‘high-floor’ guys, who are a buncha “choir boys,” & also to keep from being CRUCIFIED, if this offense were to absolutely IMPLODE next season. And, to help guard against all of the ‘backlash’ they would all receive for choosing (an aging ‘defensive-minded’) Bowles, over a young, modern day, ‘offensive-minded’ Cohen. Especially, if the Jags improve greatly and showed a lot of promise, & the Bucs were to ‘miss-out’ on The PLAYOFFS. Now, that just canNOT happen. And, don’t think for a minute, that has never entered their minds either, cause YOU KNOW it has. Definitely, after THAT entire fiasco with the way that whole thing went down.
April 27th, 2025 at 9:59 am
The bucs offense played quite well with Evans and Godwin out. The defense was the problem. Lamar Jackson 5 tds… Kirk Cousins 4tds… Patrick Mahones 3 tds(one of his better games)…. Brock Purdy 2tds but also thru for season high 353 yards. But yeah we needed to draft a wr3/4… Keep drinking the kool-aid
April 27th, 2025 at 10:43 am
List/draft grading is dumb AF. We filled some needs and got a post-Evans reciever. Good job.
April 27th, 2025 at 11:07 am
💯 DR.💯. Morrison’s injury history is absolutely INSANE, too! Unbelievable, really!
April 27th, 2025 at 11:20 am
That was some UGLY stuff on this here thread.
April 27th, 2025 at 11:22 am
Probably, the most crushing, disheartening, & disappointing thing of this entire draft, is the confirmation of the ‘reality’ now, that Chris Godwin’s possibility of being “Chris Godwin” again, for this season, appears to be not good.
April 27th, 2025 at 11:31 am
“Ancient” – “Arrogance.” Great Word Choice. 💯 DEAD. ON. It had the same exact feeling to me 💯. LOT of words.
April 27th, 2025 at 11:40 am
I lean toward so-so draft. Instead of beef we got ballerinas. Maybe they will work out OK, however, we already have/had ballerinas (see JTS).
April 27th, 2025 at 11:46 am
You are all over it, “FrontFour.” 💯 Like I said going into the draft… “QUALITY Over Quantity.” A “Win-NOW” mode team with a ‘legit’ shot (in THIS NFCS) at a ‘first-round bye’ and ‘home-field advantage’ throughout The Playoffs, and PRIMED to make a Super Bowl Run, MUST draft ‘high-end’ immediate ‘impact-players’ at positions of need (which obviously will also be ‘longterm’ contributors/cornerstones for the future years to come). We got ZERO urgency.
April 27th, 2025 at 11:50 am
Wonder how many other teams out there, made ZERO moves, other than the BUCS!? The Eagles, Ravens, & Bills of course, ALL made “SUPER BOWL” moves.
April 27th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
All of the tape on players drafted looks great. That includes ours and those drafted immediately before/after ours. So grading the draft picks right now is nonsense.
I wish we had the LB from UCLA, would likely be more of a difference maker given our weaknesses. Seems like we could have drafted a B+ WR, someone like Noel from Iowa State, and still have an excellent WR room.
For me, E2 will have to be on a HOF-like track, as Godwin was before his injuries, in order for the E2 pick to make sense.
I also don’t understand why we don’t care about Morrison’s injury history when that’s such a big deal with Dean.
April 27th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
Damn – F’n bunch of whiners….
Whole thread full of Melvin’s here….
You too DR…..
And those talking about Morrison’s “extensive injury history” need to do some research – including Joseph…..
April 27th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
I think we were all expecting a draft similar to the Atlanta Falcons haul, focused on defense with one swing tackle added in to the mix. What we got was not necessarily worse, just different (and should be noted that Atlanta traded away their first round 2026 pick to get there). We still have all of our 2026 picks.
Atlanta’s selections in the 2025 NFL draft:
Round 1, Pick 15: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
Round 1, Pick 26: James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
Round 3, Pick 96: Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
Round 4, Pick 118: Billy Bowman Jr., S, Oklahoma
Round 7, Pick 218: Jack Nelson, OT, Wisconsin
UDFA signing incl: Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas
Jacksonville and Carolina added premiere WRs and New Orleans continued to see confusion. If Atlanta can trade Cousins for some valuable players, they will be the main competition for the Bucs in 2025. Jacksonville and Carolina will continue to improve and New Orleans should occupy the basement.
April 27th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
DR … ‘I was HOPING that by the end of this draft, we’d have all the pieces we’ll need to get us to the Super Bowl. Bucs (potentially) drafted for the future, but I’m not convinced that’ll help us win the Super Bowl THIS YEAR. Sure do HOPE I’m wrong though.’
Sorry to have gotten some folks so upset (especially Rod), but I am totally convinced that 2025 & 2026 is our ‘Super Bowl window’. Also convinced though that our offense is ready, but our defense (from last year) won’t get us there. I was HOPING that we could ‘fix’ our problems on defense through this draft, but I just don’t feel like we did. Thankfully we’ve still got free agency (and some money) to address those needs.
I see a number of parallels between where we were in 2019 & 2020 and where we are in 2024 & 2025. The 2019 & 2020 draft classes was critical to our 2020 playoffs wins (we got starters Dean, SMB, White, Winfield, and Wirfs from those 2 classes, and they were essential to our 2020 season). Our 2019 defense had a BUNCH of new starters (and a new defensive philosophy), and ended up ranked #29 (Jameis helped). But that 1 year experience allowed us to improve all the way to the #8 defense in 2020, surrendering 94 fewer points. THAT improvement, combined with our #3-ranked offense, set us up pretty nicely for winning in 2020.
Last season we had some excellent starters on defense, to start the year, but things went downhill pretty fast, largely because of injuries. At one point our defense became unrecognizable. I was hoping that this draft class would ‘fix’ the holes that opened when we lost Whitehead & Britt, and add depth to our defense, and let us get back to those things that we traditionally do well. We’ll see in a few months if that’s what actually happened.
Our 2024 defense was higher ranked (#16) than our 2019 defense was (#29),
April 27th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
I can’t figure this draft out. Is todd trying to make watts and Ramirez into ilbs?
Was drafting ee as receiver 4 wiser than trading the pick?
Can Watson make the team or should we have drafted another really big guy at dt?
Why 2 picks at cornervack?
Why not at least one ol?
I trust Jason’s answers, sometimes it’s about things you can’t forsee
April 27th, 2025 at 1:36 pm
Rod, you make good points when you’re not busy giving Jameis a handy, and having some sort of weird axe to grind with Baker
April 27th, 2025 at 2:19 pm
Why is it so hard for many to understand our draft this year?
Licht drafted for talent and team fit – moreso than “need” or position….
Its what good General managers do…..
I didn’t care much for the WR in rd 1 pick at first either – because this team obviously needed more help on defense than offense coming into this year…..
I was hoping for Ezeiruaku at #19. DR wanted a “beastly” NT/DT….. Others wanted Campbell….
But the bottom line is the Bucs were targeting Egbuka the whole time as a prospect who had a true 1st round grade (there weren’t many this year), had the head and heart and character they were looking for, AND could be had at #19 – a somewhat tall order in a draft that had maybe 10-12 true first round talents…..
The Bucs added young talent at a # of positions of need or relative need – thats all we really know at this point. In 2-3 years we will know for sure how this draft stacks up against the previous 3 which were all stellar.
Meanwhile – lets just be happy we have a GM who consistently brings in good football players with team chemistry in mind. Its a winning formula.
Licht is trying to shatter the idea that our Super Bowl window closes in a year or 2 when LD54 and ME13 retire….
Keep bringing in talented players every year via the draft and you build a dynasty that competes year in and year out. A team that doesn’t have to go “all in” financially – trying to slip through a limited window of opportunity to win a Super Bowl – but competes at a high level every year for many years in a row….
April 27th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
∆ ∆ ∆ This is funny above at 2:19. It’s completely incorrect, but funny.
Also sound like the “we always bat around .500” completely-comfortable-with-mediocrity mentality that our stellar division opponents try and sell to their fanbases.
Go study the last 10 drafts down to the last detail by 2 other general managers…the perennially best (for the champs this year), and the almost as equally great one up north in Bal ti more. Learn from them. And if you’re not doing at least if not better than they do ANNUALLY then how do you expect to hold the trophy…
April 27th, 2025 at 2:46 pm
Defense Rules – If you think this is our Super Bowl window, then you should be really happy with this draft, since we got a bunch of guys with experience and production who can play early. The defense wasn’t going to be magically fixed in one draft – so reinforcing a position where you have constant injuries (WR) with a guy you can plug and play pretty much from day 1 is huge, since the team is going to win with offense. On defense, like stated, they got guys with a lot of reps who, for the most part, shouldn’t be developmental picks.
It’s extremely unlikely you’re going to hit on every pick, but e2 is as safe of a pick as you get, and Morrison should be a stud — if he’s healthy. Walker in the 4th round, the more I see of him, read about him, look at his production and age, that’s a guy who should play early and should give some production – he’s not Braswell, where he sits and learns for a year or two before you have any idea what you got.
This draft was about win now, it was about safe productive players who should play early. The fact you can’t see that, and you’re crying and whining about not reaching for a 5th round DT in the 2nd round, that’s on you.
April 27th, 2025 at 3:27 pm
Braswell. Sits and learns for a year? Come on Rod! I’ve listened to your talking that crap about certain positions needing some years to get accustomed to the system and speed of the game. BullSpit! If Braswell turns into a player this year it’ll shock me. Sorry.
April 27th, 2025 at 4:13 pm
Just want to make sure I am reading the negative trollers correctly. Are you saying we WOULD have won the Superbowl either this year or next if we had taken either the edge from BC or Tenn, but since we took EE it’s now impossible?
This is starting to sound a lot like we would have won it all if we hadn’t taken Trask for some mystery super sleeper that was taken later
April 27th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
Rod can you keep posting… Im transcribing it to paper so I can wipe my a**
April 27th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
I sit in the camp that this was a pedestrian safe draft that does not dial up the needle and barely addressed need. If you think fat Albert from UF is a DT depth solution, then strap on your Heavan’s gate Nikes and start sipping the Koolaid being served at OBP. Better yet, enjoy the nap cuz you already drank from that cup.
This is not a knock on E². I think he’ll be great, but if you are drowning and hungry, you need a life preserve over a ham sandwich. We lost a lot of close games. Games in which the D failed to stop the winning drive or failed to give the O another shot. Our O improved across the board, meanwhile, the D diminished across the board. Defensive injuries revealed significant depth issues. Offense continued to chug along regardless of injury. Drink up folks